Ampoule type container and method of producing the same



March 28, 1961 F. A. H. Kock AMPOULE TYPE CONTAINER AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME Filed Jan. 5, 1960 vill! lnllllil Il illlllnnnvvn/ United States Patent AMPOULE TYPE CONTAINER METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME Friedrich August Heinz Kock, Sophienterrasse 8, Hamburg 13, Germany Filed Jan. 5, 1960, Ser. No. 553 l Claims priority, application Germany Sept. 1, 1959 8 Claims. (Cl. 21S-12)' The present invention relates to ampoule type glass .containers for holding biologicals, and other pharmaceutical uids. It is the purpose of this invention to provide for the quick, sure opening of the ampoule: to protect the ampoule in transit and storage; to provide attached opening means which, if desired, may be sterile; to avoid the present necessity of presterilizing the le or glass scratching tool; to entrap glass splinters from the severed tip, and generally to provide an :ampoule and ampoule package which may be opened safely and dependably even by the most unknowing and inexpert. This last advantage, which my package achieves, extends the usefulness of the invention beyond the medical and analytical fields and makes it particularly suited to the repackaging of perfumes, since the ampoule can be opened by anyone without danger or fuss. Y Y j It is prior artito package a number of ampoules in a container and include inthe package, one small scratching tool with which a break line may be scored around the conventional ampoule neck. The best practice demands that this knife be sterilized before use-which causes a delay in administration, and since there is a possibility that the vial portion of the ampoule may have internal strains, the hazard remains that the ampoule may shatter when the bulb end is wrenched off. Doctors and nurses become very expert in this opening procedure but in the hands of the inexpert, disaster frequently occurs.

Although ampoules are ideally suited to the packaging and retention of perfumes, ampoules have not been used because opening them presents a hazard to the public. Instead, it is commercial practice to use the expensive ground-glass stoppered container even for the very small quantities in which repackaged perfumes are sold.

The invention will be described by reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the preferred form of my ampoule package. y

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the container shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 shows an alternate form of thimble in perspective.

Figures 4 and 5 show horizontal sections through the cutting means showing alternative forms of cutting elements.

Refer-ring to Figure 2, the assembly comprises a glass ampoule 2, the lower part 4, of which is in the form of a longitudinal cylinder closed at the bottom by a rounding 6. The upper part of the ampoule consists of a neck 8, a bulb-like head 10, and tip 12. The ampoule is usually made of neutral glass, but, with due regard to the contents, any material which can be sealed off, scored and fractured can be used.

The ampoule is held in a thin, metallic, tubular jacket 16, which, for convenience in rolling the threads 28, is usually cylindrical, but square or polygonal shapes may be used if slip-fit caps or cap latching means, for exam ple, lugs and detents are provided.

Packing 14, may be a preformed sheath of any suitl 2,977,014 Patented Mara 28, 1961 ice 2 able shock or ythermal insulating substance, cellulose tibre or preferably, for example, a preform of polystyrene foam. But foamed-in-place plastic may be used and ad-` vantageously so, for the ampoule itself may be sterilized in the same heat cycle as that needed to foam and set the plastisol. l

If a preformed packing is used, an adhesive is coated on the part 4', and the ampoule is'then pushed into the preformed packing 14. The vmarginal area 18, of the packet 16, is then turned inwardly--thus locking the ampoule 2, and packing 14, permanently into the jacket 16.

If a foamed-in-place material is used, the correct amount of the plastic (usually in liquid plastisol form) is placed in the jacket 16, the ampoule 2, is inserted and, while it is supported by a proper tool which engages the bulb portion 10, the margins 18, of packet 16, are inturned to engage the neck 8. This operation centers the ampoule. Subsequent heating sets the mixture into a resilient, foamed, insulatingmass. If the jacket is made of aluminum or is covered with some like light and heat reflecting substance, the insulating properties'of the assembly are improved. y

' Some foams, particularly the phenolic types, can be molded with a dense smooth skin and are so rigid that they can perform both the function of packing 14, and the jacket 16. When such rigid foams are used, the arnpoule 2, is covered with adhesive and then pushedinto the foamed packing which previously has been molded to proper shape. Slip-fit caps 26, are usually preferred `when this modification of the invention isVA used. i'

Bulb 10, and tip 12, of the ampoule are covered by .a thimble 20, formed of a semi-rigid but thread holding substance. A number of materials are suitable, for example, half-hard rubber, but polyethylene, particularly if of the higher density types lends itself well to this service.

Thimble 10, is externally threaded adjacent its margin and is screwed into a threaded cutter-holder 24, which also may be a plastic molding. As shown in Figure 2, the cutter 22, is a steel ring or washer with sharpened margins about its central orifice. It is locked in place as shown by pinching it between thimble 20, and holder 24. Alternatively, segmented cutters or straight saw-tooth cutters 22, as shown in Figures 4 and 5 may be substituted for the ring cutter 22.

Figure 3, shows a slotted form of thimble 20 which may be used if extra flexibility is required or if metal is used for the thimble. Portions of the thimble walls are cut away at 34. Part 24 is not used. Instead, the knives 22, are pinched or otherwise fastened to the thimble walls as shown, lalthough this modification severs the glass cleanly, it does not protect the fingers vof the operator in a comparable degree to that achieved by the arrangement shown in Figure 2.

The assembly is completed by the cap 26, which, optionally, may be lined with an insulating substance 14', which, as in the case of packing 14, may be preformed and adhesively secured to cap 26, or may be foamed in placed over a mandrel. The cap is secured to the jacket 1,6, by means of the mating rolled threads 28, adjacent the margins of both jacket and cap. As explained, a simple slip fit is an eiective alternate and detents or lugs may be used when the container is other than a cylindrical shape. l

The container is supplied to the pharmaceutical or perfume packer with an empty ampoule fastened in the jacketwhich the packer then iills and seals and completes the assembly. Also the individual parts may be furnished the packer who completes the assembly operations which have been described.

The package is sealed by a transparent tape seal 30,

. strip 32,'is added.

overlying the threads to which, for convenience, a tear Opening the ampoule is simple. First cap 26, is removed, then the thimble 20, is pushed laterally bringing the cutter into engagement with the glass. Thimble 20, is then rotated about neck 8, while lateral pressure is still applied which results in a deep score in the glass at 8. The thimble 20, is then sharply tiltedsnapping the neck 8, at the Score line. l v

For the nurse or physician, a sterile package is always ready which can be opened very quickly and depend-ably with no danger of breakage. The cutting tool is always at hand. Glass splinters cannot escape for contrary to the common use of a hemostat to crush the tip, no glass is shattered. The bulb 10, nearly invariably lifts clean-` 1y from the neck. In all instances the hands of the operator are completely protected. It is even possible to open the ampoule while wearing rubber gloves for'there is no danger that the gloves may be cut or punctured.

The surety and dependability of opening makes it possible to extend its usefulness to analysts needing premeasured quantities of titration reagents and to the per fume industry and its consumers.

What is claimed is:

l. A safe-opening ampoule package comprising an arnpoule having a lluid containing body portion and neck, bulb and tip portions, a sheath of protective material surrounding the body portion, a thimble covering the neck and having substantial clearance with respect to the neck, bulb and tip portions, neck severing means supported by said thimble normally disposed in spaced relation to the'neck, the thimble being capable of lateral mo tion. to permit the severing means to press against the neck and to score it when thethimble is rotated, the severing means being so arranged aSV-to engage the bulb` when the thimble is tilted and thereby break the ampoule yat the scored neck.

2. An ampoule package as claimed in claim l in which the sheath is composed of a solid, yfoamed plastic substance to which the body portion of the ampoule is adhesively bonded.

3. An ampoule package as claimed in claim 1 in which the sheath is surrounded by a jacket, the margin of which is bent inwardly and surrounds the neck portion of the ampoule.

4. An ampoule package as claimed in claim l in which the cutting element is a ringsurrounding the neck of the ampoule having a cutting edge formed at the margin of the orifice in said ring.

5. An ampoule package as claimed in claim 1 in which the thimble is formed of a distortable, plastic material threaded adjacent its margin and the cutter is retained by a cutter holder into which the thimble is screwed.

6. An ampoule package as claimed in claim l in which the thimble is slotted to increase its flexibility and cutterv blades are aixed to the walls of the thimble adjacent the extremity of said walls.

7. An ampoule package as claimed in claim l in which the cutting element comprises a plurality of saw-tooth blades disposed at lea'st on opposite sides of the neck of References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 184,256 Moore Nov. 14, 1876( 1,012,672 Lovejoy -,Dec. 26J 1911 2,860,768 Smithers t... -..a Nov. 18, 195,8

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